A LIFELINE FOR THE VILLAGE
JOE Williams opened a post office counter three years ago because villagers had no local access to vital services.
But even though his shop in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, is thriving he does not make a profit from the new arm to his business.
The last bank in the village shut 20 years ago, and the old post office closed in 2015. Now, as well as buying food in The Village Shop, locals pay in cheques there and withdraw cash and pensions.
Mr Williams, 3 , said: ‘ We make around £14,000 a year from Post Office commission, but we have to pay our staff ourselves.’